Bontadka

Any resident living in the Gandhinagar area in Bangalore is familiar with its ever bustling streets, teeming with travellers from the nearby railway, bus and metro stations. Despite this constant urban movement, the neighbourhood lacks any comfortable spaces for people to sit, pause and unwind. Most dining spaces in the area cater to a fast-paced crowd, promoting a quick in-and-out culture.

Enter Bontadka - a casual fine dining restaurant designed by Gayatri Nhavkar and Gaurav Koshti of LifeUp Studio. Spanning 5500 sq. ft., the restaurant is the new face of the recently renovated Luxant Hotel, a 30-year-old property that underwent an intense 16-month transformation. By offering a space where people can sit back, relax, and enjoy a good meal, Bontadka helps bring the community together. Unlike quick-service restaurants that rush customers in and out, this dining space encourages people to slow down, have conversations, and connect - whether it’s travelers taking a break or locals catching up with family or friends.

For the travellers who wander about the streets and the proud residents who call it home, Bangalore is the Garden city. Its lush green pockets and serene climate have inspired the design duo to create a restaurant that embodies this tropical spirit. While embracing the city's scenic beauty, the design also incorporates vibrant elements envisioned by the client to inject energy into the space. The design emphasizes an organic spatial flow, with elements inspired by natural forms and structures, with Art Deco undertones that echo this organic elegance. This vision comes together in a boutique dining experience that draws in professionals, social groups, young patrons and travellers. In doing so, Bontadka contributes to the neighbourhood’s changing identity, where dining is not just about convenience but also about experience.

With Luxant Hotel's minimal facade, the vibrancy of Bontadka restaurant stands out. The reimagined front facade, oriented to the northeast, invites the soft glow of morning sunlight. An intriguing terracotta jali catches the eye from the street, offering filtered glimpses of the interiors as bougainvillea and creepers gently weave through it. Though freshly planted, these climbers will gradually take root, and in time, the facade will come alive with vibrant blooms, adding layers of color and character. As one approaches the hotel’s entrance, natural materials like terracotta blocks, cane lights, and stone plaster start to emerge, enveloping visitors in a sense of warmth and inviting them further into the hotel.

This striking facade sets the tone for what’s inside, where a stunning transformation awaits. For those who have visited the hotel while it was still named Vijay Residency, the reimagined restaurant is completely unrecognizable. As part of the renovation, which spans two floors, the floor plans were completely reimagined to optimize the use of the space. Walls have been broken down, openings widened and spatial boundaries redefined to create new volumes that enhance openness, connectivity and an ease of movement throughout the space. Although a survey was conducted by an external agency, it failed to capture the building’s actual condition, requiring the team to navigate unforeseeable structural changes and non-structural on-site discrepancies - making real-time decisions on-site to ensure the design vision remained intact.

As one step further inside, they are greeted by a double height area that blends vibrant hues and warm textures into an immersive sensory experience. Fluted concrete-finished columns rise through the space, complementing the newly added arched fenestrations that frame views of the outdoors while bringing in soft natural light from the North. Every detail, from the tile inlays on the floor to the floral designs hand-painted onto the ceiling, from botanical paintings on the walls to organic banana fiber lighting, reinforces the restaurant’s design narrative, creating an atmosphere that invites relaxation.

The space continues to unfold as one moves deeper into the interior, revealing a diverse range of seating options, each offering a distinct experience. There is seating within the double-height volume on the ground level, while an upper-level section overlooks this soaring space. On the first floor, a cozy mezzanine, owing to the site’s low 7’ true ceiling, creates a more intimate setting. A semi-covered outdoor seating area allows diners to enjoy the city’s pleasant climate, while the balcony seating provides a more elevated vantage point. “The site naturally lent itself to creating different seating zones, shaped by the varying heights. While it was a challenge to stitch these together cohesively, it also allowed for flexible seating arrangements that cater to a wide range of guests, ensuring adaptability in the dining experience,” explains Gayatri.

Beyond the ground floor, as one ascends the stairs, they first arrive at the newly added bridge, which connects the mezzanine on the left - previously home to the bar - to the once inaccessible balcony on the right. “Integrating the staircase and bridge into the existing structure was one of the most challenging yet exciting aspects of the design,” adds Gayatri. This intervention not only linked the two spaces but also introduced additional seating in the restaurant. Moving past the bridge, the full mezzanine comes into view, centered around a metal tree-like structure that not only aligned with the restaurant’s theme but also created a sense of vertical expansion, subtly counteracting the low height of the space. On one side, a wall lined with brown-tinted mirrors enhances spaciousness, while adding a touch of elegance. The material palette here, much like the space below, is rich, warm, and vibrant, with earthy textures, bold patterns, and thoughtfully layered details that add to the overall spatial quality. Art Deco-inspired railings line the mezzanine, adding a layer of finesse.

The outdoor area is spread across two levels - one accessible from the lower level and the other, through the bridge. Positioned between the east and west, the space is constantly animated by shifting patterns of light and shadow throughout the day. Natural elements, from cane woven into the ceiling and lighting to the warm embrace of wood and the rawness of terracotta jali, create a harmonious blend of rustic and refined aesthetics. Beyond its visual appeal, the jali screens the seating from the street while allowing light and ventilation to flow through. “The original Makrana marble, granite and kota limestone from the demolished site was repurposed to create terrazzo, which is used in these outdoor spaces as well as certain indoor areas,” explains Gaurav.

The space is a canvas for craftsmanship, with custom terrazzo surfaces, handcrafted tiles, woven cane details, and textured finishes, all brought to life by skilled artisans. Carefully designed openings and the materiality of each surface allow light to interact dynamically, creating an ever-changing interplay of shadows. Every detail has been thoughtfully executed on-site, making Bontadka a true showcase of bespoke design and material expression.

With Bontadka, LifeUp Studio has crafted an incredible renovation story that has put the once-forgotten Vijay Residency back onto the map as Luxant Hotel. Named after the family behind it, the multi-cuisine restaurant draws inspiration from Anantharam Bontadka’s legacy, offering a setting where meals are meant to be savored, not rushed. The restaurant has redefined the neighborhood’s dining culture by offering a space that encourages people to gather, unwind, and connect. In doing so, it sets a new benchmark for design and hospitality, demonstrating how thoughtful spaces can shape urban experiences.